Dragon's Fang (Renji Abarai x OC)

¢нαρтєя 12

"Uchiumi-san" Lieutenant Hinamori said as she saw Hotaru enter the Relief Station. Hotaru spotted Renji lying on the ground and her breath caught in her throat.

"Renji," she said softly and keeled down at his side. It had been a slight struggle to hide her limping, and although Kira seemed to notice, Hinamori was oblivious.

"We found him like this, whoever did this was nowhere to be seen" Kira said, staring down at Renji's unconscious form sadly.

"It just doesn't make sense" Hotaru said, Renji's face. Despite being unconscious, he had an incredibly pained expression, and it hurt Hotaru just to know there was nothing she could do for him. "...what kind of monster we're facing if such talented Shinigami can be defeated. If I had known he would go out searching for them, I would've-" Hotaru stopped, being too choked up to finish. Hinamori kneeled down at her side and placed an arm around her, which Hotaru gladly accepted. Kira kneeled down across from them on the other side of Renji.

"It's going to be okay, Uchiumi. He's alive, and he's going to get better" he soothed, and Hotaru smiled sadly up at him.

"Arigato, Kira-kun" she said, before looking right back down at Renji. Seeming to be convinced that Hotaru knew nothing about it, Kira rose back to his feet and continued to discuss his condition. Hinamori rose as well.

"If I'd found him sooner and joined the fight..." Kira began, but Hinamori shook her head.

"That's not your fault, Kira-kun" she said, and Kira changed his tone of voice.

"Anyway, I'll contact 4th Squad. I'll have them send an advanced relief unit" Hotaru felt an indistinguishable reiatsu in the area and could guess that her Captain was near. In a flash, he had appeared behind the two lieutenants and taken them completely by surprise. Hotaru had become used to this, serving under him for so long, although his presence still managed to overwhelm her.

"There is no need for that" the Captain said sternly. Hinamori jumped and turned to look at him. "Kuchiki Taichou..." she started

"Put him in a holding cell" he ordered.

"B-but Abarai-kun fought the ryoka by himself! But still-" Hinamori began, but was cut off.

"I will not hear excuses. To enter a fight alone means defeat is utterly unacceptable. I have no need of a fool who does not comprehend that. He is an eyesore. Take him this instant" he said, and turned to show he was finished speaking of the matter.

Hotaru's eyes widened as she listened to the way her Captain spoke of Renji. It made her blood boil, and she clutched Renji's hand a little too tightly in response.

"Please wait a moment!" Hinamori shouted, her hands in fists at her sides. "You make it sound like Abarai-kun –"

"Don't!" Kira shouted, holding her back. Hinamori looked at him in shock.

"Kira-kun..." Kira bowed his head.

"My deepest apologies" he said, and Hinamori paused for a moment before doing the same.

"Hotaru" the Captain called on his way out of the room.

"Kuchiki Taichou?" she asked as she rose to a stand.

"Follow me please," he ordered and Hotaru gave one last look at Renji and at Kira and Hinamori before excusing herself and heading out the door. Outside, her Captain was waiting. He started speaking almost immediately, and Hotaru had to walk with him to catch it all.

"With Renji incapacitated in this time of crisis, it is important to still retain officer dynamics. As the third seat, the lieutenant position opens to you first" he said, expecting Hotaru to accept the position without him formally offering it to her.

"I will do my best, Kuchiki Taichou" she said, bowing her head sharply.

"Be sure that you do" he said firmly, and with that he was gone. Hotaru hadn't even raised her head. She looked at the empty corridor he had disappeared down, frowning hard at what responsibility had been placed before her. Being lieutenant was something she had always dreamed, something she had worked so hard for, and now the opportunity was finally hers.

Hotaru couldn't smile about it, though. It was impossible to push Renji from her thoughts, and even harder to ignore the fact that her Captain was a cruel and cold-hearted man. He wasn't fighting for Rukia, and Renji might as well be dead to him. Was it really worth it, sacrificing her morals for a shot at a lieutenant position?

Hotaru finally returned to the Relief Station in hopes of seeing Renji again. Upon entering the room, however, she found an empty cot. Crossing through the room and peering out the other side, Hotaru spotted a 4th Squad member sweeping up the outside hall.

" Pardon me, but could you please inform me where Lieutenant Abarai Renji has been moved?" she asked him, and the Shinigami straightened up and wiped his brow.

"Yes, Abarai Fukutaichou has been brought to a holding cell in 6th Division" he stated, and Hotaru frowned.

"Was he finished with medical treatment?" she inquired.

"No, but 5th seat of our division has been sent to treat his wounds. Abarai Fukutaichou is currently stable, and is being made as comfortable as possible in his cell" he assured her. She thanked him and left the building, eager to make the trip over to the 6th division barracks to see if Renji had woken up yet. Before she had the chance to get going, a hell butterfly fluttered into her field of vision, begging for a finger to perch on.

Hotaru reached her hand out and let the butterfly land softly on it. Focusing intently on the beating wings of the creature, Hotaru listened to what news it brought.

The news did not at all surprise her. With the severity of the intruder situation, it made perfect sense that wartime orders would be instigated. All it meant was that it was mandatory for officers to carry their Zanpakutos with them at all times. It would have surprised Hotaru if they hadn't already been carrying them around.

Continuing on to 6th Division, Hotaru was almost to the prison when she felt her Captain near.

"Uchiumi Hotaru, why are you still up?" she heard his voice and turned to see him walking past.

"Kuchiki Taichou, I was going to ensure that Abarai Renji had been brought to a cell here" she said, managing to tell part of the truth.

"I have already done so. It would be best if you were to retire for the night; there is an officers meeting early tomorrow morning, and with your new title it is important that you be prompt" he said, and Hotaru bowed her head and excused herself. The captain watched her go rather skeptically, so Hotaru could not chance one last glance at the prison before reaching her quarters.